Acupressure

FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT ACUPRESSURE - PAGE 3

KIDDY SKIN CARE: The double whammy of cold air outdoors and dry heat indoors can make winter miserable for children with dry, irritated skin. Dress children warmly for the cold outdoors but keep indoor temperatures as cool as your family finds comfortable (this keeps the skin moist). Avoid frequent baths and, after washing, apply a moisturizer. If you want to alleviate morning sickness, it's all in the wrists. Pregnant women reported a significant drop in severity of nausea and vomiting when they wore special wristbands that make use of the ancient Chinese art of acupressure, two Italian researchers found in a study reported in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology.

For about a month last fall, Des Plaines police officers investigated operations at the city's three licensed massage businesses, looking for evidence that the main trade was sex, not shiatsu. Patrol officers watched outside the establishments. Undercover officers were sent inside to learn the routine. As a grand finale, police raided two of the places in one night, rounding up the masseuses and their naked, mortified male patrons and then hauling them all to the police station.

Picture the perfect massage: Soothing music, a dimly lit room, your stresses melting away under the pressure of the massage therapist's hands. Just what you need after the hectic holidays, right? Not always. For massage newbies -- and some not-so-newbies -- who may not be familiar with the proper pampering protocol, what should be a relaxing experience quickly can become a nerve-wracking ordeal. "You're naked and it's pretty up close and personal ... it can get awkward," said April Hong, 30, a veteran spagoer who lives in Ukrainian Village and gets spa treatments, including massages, about three times a month.

What do you do when your back is killing you and you've exhausted every remedy known to medical science? It's likely you'll join the growing throng of Americans -- bedeviled by migraine headaches, anxiety and chronic aches and pains - who are checking out alternative medicine. Lately, alternative medicine has gotten a boost from mainstream science. Studies have shown acupuncture to be an effective treatment for certain maladies, and more scientific trials indicate that the herbs St. John's wort and feverfew are effective for depression and migraines.

The East Dundee Village Board on Monday night unanimously approved an ordinance prohibiting massage parlors from operating within 1,000 feet of a school, church or residence or within 500 feet of another massage parlor. Owners of the massage parlors also would be subject to criminal background checks, and their businesses would be inspected by the village. Employees would have to be at least 18 and certified or licensed. The village's action follows a request by an unidentified businessman to open an acupressure clinic in the Rock Road Industrial Park at Illinois Highway 72 and Rock Road Drive.

Your 16-month-old baby has her first nasty cold of the season. But drugmakers have recalled the only remedy you know -- infant cold and cough medicines -- because of the danger of overdose. Don't panic. Although there is no cure, several natural therapies can stimulate your baby's immune system to fight the virus. Encourage fluids, especially chicken soup and chamomile tea, to help alleviate respiratory symptoms. Lavender is especially soothing for a cough, said Liat Ben Yakov, an integrative holistic therapist in Chicago.

The East Dundee Village Board has unanimously approved an ordinance prohibiting massage parlors from operating within 1,000 feet of a school, church or residence or within 500 feet of another massage parlor. Owners of the massage parlors also would be subject to criminal background checks, and their businesses would be inspected by the village. Employees would have to be at least 18 years old and certified or licensed. The village's action follows a request by an unidentified businessman to open an acupressure clinic in the Rock Road Industrial Park at Illinois Highway 72 and Rock Road Drive.

The facts -- Smokers looking for a way to beat the habit have been using acupuncture for several decades, but does it work? According to those who endorse it, the technique helps stimulate the release of endorphins and other brain chemicals, blotting out cravings and easing the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. A 2006 survey by the Mayo Clinic found that about 27 percent of smokers looking to quit had tried acupuncture at least once, and many others said they hoped to try it. Most studies, however, suggest they could try something else, or another approach.

We overlooked a few items when doing our holiday shopping guide, and even though the season is over, we would be remiss if we did not tell you about: The Matrimonial Toilet Plunger: A handsome plunger with a white suction cup base, a clear plastic handle filled with rice and a bride and groom perched on top of the handle. An accompanying tag states, "We took the plunge." Manufactured by Throne Products. $19.99. The Mr. Potato Head Massager: What's kinkier than this? A battery-operated vibrator in the shape of everyone's favorite Spud Stud, Mr. Potato Head.

Despite the heat, the three dogs bounded out of her car and into the clinic, tails wagging and tongues ready to lick. "They love this place," Barbara Perez said Wednesday, as Jasper, Kayla and Samantha jumped around in a treatment room at Dragon's Life Systems in Andersonville, waiting for a session with their animal massage therapist. "Jasper was a very angry little boy," Perez explained. "Mrs. Yang took lots of time with him, calming him down." Enter Xing Chun Yang, an acupressure specialist.